Carlisle 3.40 tips – Ballymalin is best fresh

The red-hot form of the Nigel Twiston-Davies stable is encouraging for the prospects of BALLYMALIN in the feature handicap chase over an extended 3m2f. Stamina is going to be at a premium and the eight-year-old has that in spades, as he showed when finishing third of the 18 runners in the Midlands Grand National back in March under today’s rider Tom Bellamy.

He found 2m7f around Worcester too sharp when making his seasonal reappearance last season, albeit that didn’t stop him putting in a gutsy display to prevail in a tight finish, and he’s now rated a full 12lb lower. That was his third consecutive success after a break (91, 166 and 175 days) so I doubt the fact he’s been absent since April is going to hinder his chances, and he’s likely been primed for this valuable prize.